Free races awarded to local organizations at May 20th Kennett Run

05/16/2017 01:11PM
● By Richard Gaw

By Richard L. GawStaff Writer

At its May 11 kick-off luncheon at Two Stones Pub in the Shoppes at Longwood Village, Kennett Run Charities, Inc. announced that it has awarded ten free entries each for this year's Kennett Run to four local organizations: La Communidad Hispana, the Garage Community & Youth Center, and the WIN and After-the-Bell programs, both associated with the Kennett Consolidated School District.The 28th annual Kennett Run will take place on May 20 at Anson B. Nixon Park.“It looks like we'll have almost 40 participants who would not have run otherwise,” said Race Director J.J. Simon. “It's a good way for us to encourage health and activity. We've been doing this race for 28 years, and that means we're getting into the third generation of runners in the same family. The earlier we get these kids in the race, the more likely they will come out in the future.”The luncheon, which gathered sponsors and beneficiaries of the Kennett Run together, was moderated Christopher Daney, Kennett Run Charities President, who began the festivities with a prayer that read, in part:“We are thankful for this day that you have given us, for its blessings and for its opportunities. As we prepare for this year's Kennett Run, we ask that you guide our leaders and volunteers to create an event that will help improve life in this very special community we call home. Grant that each of us may feel our responsibility to this community and all its people.“We as that you bless the many people who participate in and support the Kennett Run each year, and all the goodness they do for your community. We ask that you keep our runners and their families safe on race day so they may continue to thrive in our community for years to come.”Kennett Run Charities will also partner Kennett Area Community Center on a food drive, to be held May 19-20 at Anson B. Nixon Park.Using a course map he created as a guide, Simon also gave a “tour” of the course's new race route. an effort to consolidate the logistics of timing, race-day registration, pre- and post-race events, and all Kennett Run events – the 5K, 10K, PoweRun, FundRun and 1-Mile Run/Walk – will begin and end this year in Anson B. Nixon Park. In addition, the 5K and 10K races will be re-routed through other parts of Kennett Square. Past races directed runners to follow North Union Street – and 10K runners through neighborhoods just north of Route 1 – then onto East Locust Street, past the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club and onto North Walnut Street and into the park.In the 2017 race, the 5K and 10K course will direct participants out of the park and onto North Walnut Street, where they will make a right onto State Street, and follow the course until making a U-turn just east of Mill Road, and re-trace their steps from State Street to North Walnut Street, where there will be two U-turns for participants in both races that will then direct them back to the park.The annual Joe Hector PoweRun, which had taken place at the Kennett Area YMCA, will also take place in the park. “[With the new race route], we don't have to close as many roads, and there's less impact on the community,” Simon said. “It makes it a more fun event that allows our spectators to remain in the park for a longer period of interaction with our vendors. It will allow for a longer interaction that may last for three to four hours, rather than just after the competitors reach the finish line.”Simon also showed attendees a sample of the bobblehead-style awards that will be given to top finishers in the race.To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.